Thursday, August 6, 2015

Moisture Returns

Could August end up wetter than normal?

As noted in my previous blog, the atmospheric circulation has changed substantially, with the replacement of high pressure with troughing over the eastern Pacific.     The latest runs are trending wetter and wetter.    The latest forecasts of the NOAA CFSv2 forecast for the next two weeks indicate wetter conditions than normal.

 But the CFS model is very coarse and can't get the details of Northwest weather.  So let's look at the latest UW WRF forecast.   Over the next 72 h, southern BC and Vancouver Island will get quite wet, with over an inch of precipitation in places, but only light right over western Washington.

During the next 72 h, western WA and Oregon get modest amount, particularly over the Cascades.

But it will be the next 48 hours, during the middle of next week, that will really get wet, with even eastern WA getting into the action.  Obviously, this is relatively far out in time, but other models are in agreement with this solution.

So ironically, during one of the climatologically driest times of the year, substantial precipitation will be falling.  Importantly, this period will have a hugely beneficial effect on our water situation, reducing the need for irrigation and partly filling our reservoirs.


No comments:

Post a Comment